I have joined colleagues in Parliament to write to the Government to mark the anniversary of the issuing of the ICJ advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.

We are urging the government immediately to publish its response to the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation and take all the necessary measures to adhere to the obligation of 3^rd party states “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” as the Court stipulated.

Our letter says:

Dear Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Attorney General

On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave a groundbreaking judgement on the legal consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

This advisory opinion made crystal clear determinations that:

• The Israeli presence in the OPT, including Gaza, is unlawful and its policies and practices are incompatible with international law.
• All Israeli settlements are illegal and must be withdrawn immediately
• Israel owes full reparation for all damage of its illegal acts since 1967,
• Other states are obliged to not provide any sort of aid or assistance that maintains Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT, referring to Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Following this advisory opinion, the Foreign Office response was that it would consider “carefully before responding. The UK respects the independence of the ICJ… the UK is strongly opposed to the expansion of illegal settlements and rising settler violence”.

The government promised to publish its formal response.  One year on since the advisory opinion was issued, it has yet to do so. Given that the ICJ referred to the “unlawfulness” as an established fact, the UK has a legal duty to ensure that the government and British entities take all necessary steps to ensure that we are not complicit with this unlawful situation. This is particularly pertinent given the seriousness of the situation, the continued and increasing Israeli violations of international law, as well as the increase in illegal settlements. Between November 2023 – October 2024, Israel established 57 new settlements and outposts. However, the UK needs to not just denounce the rise in settlements but the mere existence of them, as regards the ICJ advisory opinion.

The failure of the government to publish its legal advice on the advisory opinion and address the unlawful situation occurring in the OPT, as well its own obligations under international law to avoid complicity, needs to be rectified.

Over the last year, since the opinion was issued, Israel has accelerated its violations of international law including the Fourth Geneva Convention in the OPT.

We, the undersigned, urge the government immediately to publish its response to the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation and take all the necessary measures to adhere to the obligation of 3^rd party states “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” as the Court stipulated.